Car-fender.



; PATBNTED NOV. 1, 1904.

H. M. .ADAMS.

GAR FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,619, dated November1, 190 Application filed May 14, 1904. Serial No. 208,019. No model.)

To all 7071/6772, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGH M ADAus, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washing ton, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Car- Fenders; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in car-fenders, and moreespecially relates to fenders of that type in which is embodied atilting section.

The object of the present invention is to provide a car-fender of simpleconstruction, thus reducing to a minimum the number of parts embodiedtherein and one in which the parts are so related as to insure positiveaction of the fender when struck by an object.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of a car-fender ofextreme simplicity and which will preclude derangement of the parts,thus insuring positive action when the fender is required for use.

The invention also aims to provide a device of the character mentionedwhich is so constructed as to be readily adjustable for application tocars of different styles and to permit the fender being raised orlowered upon the car should such be desired, one in which the sectionsmay be readily folded to remove the same from the zone of action of thecar-coupler when the latter is required for use, and one in which thetiltable section is adapted to be tripped either automatically bycontact with an object or manually by the car operator.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects, which will appearas the nature of the improvements is better understood, the inventionconsists, substantially, in the novel construction, combination, andarrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in theappended claims.

l/Vhile the form of the invention herein shown and described is what isbelieved to be a preferable embodiment of the invention, it will ofcourse be understood that the latter is susceptible of various changesin the form,

proportion, and minor details of construction,

and the right is therefore reserved to modify or vary the invention asfalls within the spirit and scope thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-fenderconstructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrated inapplied position upon acar. Fig. 2is an end elevation illustrating thesections of the fender as partially folded. Fig. 3 is a similar viewillustrating the position of the fender when completely folded andremoved from the Zone of action of the car-coupler. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of one of the fender-supports removed from the car-platform.Fig. 5 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective viewof the attaching-loop for the spring-buffers. Fig. 7 is a similar viewof the device for manually tripping the fender.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the platform of acar, and 2 the dashboard thereof. Arranged upon the platform 1 inadvance of the dashboard 2 is a series of fender-supports 3, two beingpreferably employed, although any desired number may be used, and saidsupports may be of any desired material, but preferably metal. Thesupports 3 are each provided with a downwardly-extending shank 4, therear face of which bears against the front end of the platform 1 and isprovided with a vertically-arranged series of notches or recesses 53,which communicate with similar notches 5, arranged at the sides of theshank, the purpose of which will be presently stated. The supports 3 areheld in position upon the platform 1 through the medium of bolts 6 ortheir equivalent, which bolts pass through outwardly-extending flanges6, projecting from the base of the supports. 3, and the rear faces ofthe supports are provided with a series of downwardly-inclined slots 7.The width of the shanks 4 is the same as the distance between the edgesof the side flanges 6 of each support. Consequently said shanks formcomparatively wide bearing-surfaces for the buffer-springs, to behereinafter referred. to.

The fender proper comprises an upper section 8, which is preferablyinclined, and a lower section 9, which occupies approximately ahorizontal plane, and said sections comprise rectangular frames in whichare arranged longitudinally and transversely extending wires 10; but, ifpreferred, said frames may be covered with a suitable wire fabric or anyother desired material. The lower section 9 is pivotally connected tothe lower edge of the upper section 8 through the medium of dependinglinks 11, which links are suspended from the lower bar of the section 8and connected to the end bars of the section 9 at a point adjacent tothe rear edge of said section. Thus the lower section 9 is so connectedto the upper section 8 that the forward edge of the section 9 willnormally gravitate unless restrained.

The bar constituting the upper edge of the section 8 is seated in one ofthe slots 7 in accordance with the height from the ground at which it isdesired to suspend the fender, and to maintain said bar in said slots,and thus preclude displacement therefrom when the fender is struck by anobject, a vertically-arranged locking-pin is passed through arearwardly-projecting lug 12, arranged upon the upper end of each of thesupports 3, the lower end of each of said pins being seated in itssupport.

In order to cushion the section 8 and at the same time maintain thesection in an inclined position, a buffer-spring 13 is connected to andrests upon the shank 1 of each of the supports 3, the forward end ofsaid spring being coiled and upon which the section 8 rests, while therear end of said spring is provided with a depending tongue 14, which isseated in a U shaped clip 15, straddling the shank 4:, so that its legslit the notches 5, and provided at its rear end with a removable pin orbolt 16, the latter in turn being seated in one of the notches orrecesses 5, and thus locking the clip in its applied position to theshank 1 and at any desired point thereon. It will thus be seen that withthe bar constituting the upper edge of the section 8 seated in thesockets 7 of the supports 3 and the end bars of the section 8 restingupon the springs 13 said section is held in a substantially fixedposition upon said supports. By providing the springs 13 with thetongues 14, the latter being the width of the inner diameter of theclips 15, the remaining portions of the springs 13 provide acomparatively wide bearing-surface for the end bars of the section 8.

It is desirable that the lower section 9 shall be retained insubstantially a horizontal position, and-to the accomplishment of thisend a pair of latchbars 17 is employed, one of said bars being pivotedupon each end of the section 8, and said bars are provided in their rearedges with upwardly-inclined shallow notches 18, which are designed toengage the ends of the bar constituting the rear edge of the section 9,which project through the frame far enough to permit such engagement,and thus maintain the forward edge of said seetion elevated from theground. The bars 17 are pivotally connected to the section 8 through themedium of pins and clips 19, and said clips are so constructed as topermit the lower ends of the latch-bars 17 freely swinging forwardly,but limiting their rearward movement, and thereby maintain the notchedends thereof in fixed relation to the rear edge of the section 9. Itwill thus be seen that by reason of the links 11 any pressure upon theforward edge of the section 9 occasioned by contact of said section witha body will swing said section rearwardly, and thus disengage the rearbar thereof from the notches 18, whereupon the forward edge of thesection 9 will gravitate, and thus effectually prevent the body orobject passing beneath said sec tion.

To manually operate the latch-bars 17, a rock-shaft 20is arranged uponthe platform 1 in rear of the dashboard, said shaft being suitablyjournaled in bearing brackets 21, carried by the car-platform, andconnected to the ends of said shaft is a pair of levers 22, which leversare in turn connected, through the medium of chains 23 or theirequivalent, with the upper ends of the latch-bars 17. The roek-shaft 20is also provided with a suitable actuating device 24, preferably in theform of a foot-lever, and by applying pressure to said device it will beseen that the shaft 20 may be rocked in its bearings to raise the levers22 to a vertical position, and thus impart to the chains 23 movement ina rear direction. This movement will swing the latchbars 17 upon theirpivots, thus moving the lower ends thereof in a forward direction andfrom engagement with the lower section 9, whereby said section is freedand will gravitate in a manner similar to its movement whenautomatically released from said latchbars.

If desired, a single latch-bar may be employed, in which event the samewould be located at substantially the central part of the upper section8 and pivoted upon a bar inter mediate the end bars and similar thereto;but by employing a pair of bars it is obvious that a firmer engagementwith the lower section is effected, and thus any tendency of saidsection to oscillate is effectually prevented.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is disclosed the manner in which the fender may befolded, and in the former figure it will be noted that the section 9rests against the section 8, the links 11 freely permitting the section9 to be swung to this position, and when the section 9 has been so movedthe two sections together may be swung to the vertical position (shownin Fig. and against the dashboard 2, the bar at the upper edge of thesection 8 forming a pivot about which said sections swing. The fender isthus removed from the Zone of action of the carcoupler, and the lattermay be used without interfering with or damaging the fender.

Suitable rollers 25' are arranged upon the forward edge of the lowersection 9 to engage with the rails or ground and provide a rollingcontact therewith.

The normal position of the fender in use is 'as illustrated in Fig. 1,in which position itis seen that the lower section 9 is engaged by thelatch-bar 17 and maintained in substantially a horizontal position. Ifat any time the lower section 9 is struck by an object, said sectionwill swing upon the links 11, thereby freeing the rear edge thereof fromengagement with the latch-bars 17, whereby the front edge of the section9 will immediately gravitate, and the rollers 25 will provide a rollingcontact with the rails or ground. On the other hand, should the operatorof the car desire to release the section 9 pressure is applied to thefoot-lever 24 to rock the shaft 20, in which movement, as described, thelevers 22 are elevated, thereby swinging the upper ends of thelatch-bars 17 rearwardly by means of the chains 23 and releasing thelatchbars from engagement with the lower section. IV hen the section 9contacts with an object, the springs 13 cushion the fender as anentirety from the shock incident thereto, and consequently the wholefender will yield slightly under the influence of the shock, and thusthe parts thereof are prevented becoming broken.

If at any time it is desired to adjust the height of the fender, theupper bar of the section 8 is seated in one of the slots 7 above thatpreviously occupied by the bar, which correspondingly lifts the entirefender structure, it being obvious that the pins 12 are first removed topermit displacement of the bar of the section 8, and after said bar hasbeen replaced in a new position the pins 12 are a ain introduced intheir respective positions. The front end of the lower section 9 may beraised or lowered by adjusting the rear bar of section 9 in thedifferent notches of the latch-bars 17.

Should it be necessary to adjust the position of the springs 13, thepins or bolts 16 are first removed, the clips 15 moved upwardly ordownwardly, as the case may be, along the shanks at to a new position,whereupon the pins 16 are again introduced into one of the recesses 5,thus locking the clips in their adjusted positions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car-fender, the combination with an upper and a lower section,the latter being pivotally connected to the upper section and movablerelatively thereto, of a pair of fender-supports carried by a car andprovided with a series of slots, the upper section being seated in saidslots and adapted to be adjusted at ditferent points alongsaid supports,means for preventing displacement of the upper section from said slots,and means for holding the lower section in substantially a horizontalposition.

,2. In a car-fender, the combination with an upper and a lower section,the latter being pivotally connected to the upper section and movablerelatively thereto, of apair of fendersupports carried by a car andprovided with a series of slots, the upper section being seated in saidslots and adapted to be adjusted at different points along saidsupports, pins arranged in said supports at the rear faces thereof andadapted to prevent displacement of the upper section from said slots,and means for holding the lower section in substantially a horizontalposition.

3. In a car-fender, the combination with an upper and a lower section,the latter being pivotally connected to the upper section and movablerelatively thereto, of a pair of fender-supports carried by a car andprovided with a series of slots, the upper section being seated in saidslots and adapted to be adjusted at difl'erent points along saidsupports, means for preventing displacement of the upper section fromsaid slots, means for holding the lower section in substantially ahorizontal position, and springs carried by said supports and againstwhich the upper section is adapted to rest for cushioning said section.

4:. In a car-fender, the combination with an upper and a lower section,the latter being pivotally connected to the upper section and movablerelatively thereto, of a pair of fender-supports carried by a car andprovided with a series of slots, the upper section being seated in saidslots and adapted to be adjusted at different points along saidsupports, means for preventing displacement of the upper section fromsaid slots, means for holding the lower section in substantially ahorizontal position, springs carried by said supports and against whichthe upper section is adapted to rest for cushioning said section, andmeans for maintaining said springs in adjusted positions along saidsupports.

5. In a car-fender, the combination with an upper and a lower section,of supports carried by a car, and to which the upper section is pivoted,said supports being provided with downwardly-extending shanks, clipsarranged upon said shanks and adjustable thereon, at :l springs carriedby said clips and against which the upper section is adapted to rest,whereby" tion for maintaining the latter in substantially a horizontalposition.

7. In a car-fender, the combination with an upper and a lower section,the latter being pivotally connected to the upper section and movablerelatively thereto, of a pair of tender-supports carried by a car andprovided with a series of slots, the upper section being seated in saidslots and adapted to be adjusted at different points along saidsupports, means for preventing displacement of the upper sec tion fromsaid slots, lateh-bars pivoted to the upper section and engaging thelower section for holding the latter in substantially a horizontalposition, and means for actuating said latch-bars for releasing the samefrom engagement with the lower section.

8. in a car-fender, the combination with an upper and a lower section,the latter being pivotally connected to the upper section and movablerelatively thereto, of a pair of fendersupports carried by a car andprovided with a series of slots, the upper section being seated in saidslots and adapted to be adjusted at different points along saidsupports, means for preventing displacement of the upper section fromsaid slots, latch-bars pivoted to the upper section and engaging thelower section for holding the latter in substantially a horizontalposition, a rock-shaft journaled upon the car-platform, and connectionsbetween said rock-shaft and said latch-bars for operating the latterwhen said shaft is rocked.

9. In a car-fender, the combination with an upper and a lower section,the latter being pivotally connected to the upper section and movablerelatively thereto, of a pair of fender-supports carried by a'car andprovided with a series of slots, the upper section being seated in saidslots and adapted to be adjusted at different points along saidsupports, means for preventing displacement of the upper section fromsaid slots, latch-bars pivoted to the upper section and engaging thelower section for holding the latter in substantially a horizontalposition, a rock-shaft journaled upon the ear-platform, connectionsbetween said rock-shaft and said latch-bars for operating the latter,and a foot-lever carried by said rock-shaft for actuating the latter.

10. In a car-fender, the combination with an upper and a lower section,the latter being pivotally connected to the upper section and movablerelatively thereto, 01 a pair of fen der-supports carried by a car andprovided with a series of slots, the upper section being seated in saidslots and adapted to be adjusted at different points along saidsupports, means for preventing displacement of the upper section fromsaid slots, latch-bars pivoted to the upper section and engaging thelower sec-' tion for holding the latter in substantially a horizontalposition, a rock-shaft journaled upon the car-platform, levers carriedby said rock-shaft, and connections between said levers and thelatch-bars for releasing the latter from engagement with the lowersection when the rock-shaft is actuated.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

HUGH M. ADAMQ. \Vitnesses:

J. FRED. KELLEY, Wu. N. GRoMwnLL.

